Energy absorption during projectile perforation of thin steel plates and the kinetic energy of ejected fragments

This paper concerns energy absorption in thin (0.4 mm) steel plates during perforation by spherical projectiles of hardened steel, at impact velocities between 200 and 600 m s−1. Absorbed energies have been obtained from measured incident and emergent projectile velocities. These tests were simulated using ABAQUS/Explicit, using the Johnson and Cook plasticity model. A strain rate-dependent, critical plastic strain fracture criterion was employed to model fracture. Good agreement is obtained between simulations and experiment and the model successfully captures the transitions in failure mode as projectile velocity increases. At velocities close to the ballistic limit, the plates fail by dishing and discing. As the incident velocity is increased, there are two transitions in failure mode, firstly to shear plugging and secondly to fragmentation and petalling. The simulations also show that, during the latter mode of failure, the kinetic energy of ejected debris is significant, and failure to include this contribution in the energy balance leads to a substantial over-estimate of the energy absorbed within the sheet. Information is also presented relating to the strain rates at which plastic deformation occurs within the sample under different conditions. These range up to about 105 s−1, with the corresponding strain rate hardening effect being quite substantial (factor of 2–3 increase in stress).